Civic Engagement Impact
Former Congressman Lee Hamilton said, “When we fail to educate our children about our history and our system of representative government, we miss an opportunity to enrich their lives, and we miss an opportunity to enrich our country through their involvement.”
Now more than ever, we must civically engage our youth to protect the future of our Democracy and to correct the systemic social issues of our time.
POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOUTH
Civic engagement has been documented as having a positive impact on young people in four different respects:
- It’s a gateway to future civic activism: Youth are more likely to vote and join community organizations 15 years down the road than adults without these high school experiences.
- It can lead to improved attitudes and behaviors related to school and work and increases academic achievement: Students learn best when actively involved and helping to solve meaningful problems. Participation in real world problem solving increases engagement, responsibility and motivation; promotes the public purpose of learning; and improves work habits and skills. Community service youth participants are more engaged in school, more likely to attend regularly, ask questions during class, develop problem-solving skills and complete assignments.
- It can positively impact interpersonal skills and social development: Participation in decision-making increases belief in one’s own ability, nurtures a desire to help others and treat peers kindly, and appreciate cultural diversity.
- It can decrease the likelihood of risky behaviors: Community service participants face less than half the risk of pregnancy, school failure, and suspension than similar students who do not participate and are less likely than similar non-participants to become involved in a range of risky behaviors.